Baseball

Baseball Drops Two At Brandeis

WALTHAM, MA-Host Brandeis scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the opener and defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's baseball team, 3-2, in the first game of a host Brandeis in a non-conference doubleheader at Stein Diamond Sunday afternoon. The Judges won the nightcap, 14-7, and swept the twin bill.

The Corsairs jumped on top in the fourth inning of the opener when sophomore designated hitter Ryan Levesque (Northridge, MA/Mount St. Charles Academy) was hit by a pitch, moved up on a walk and scored on a single by junior third baseman John Granahan (Hanover, MA/Hanover HS/Southern Maine). Brandeis scored twice in their half on an RBI single by first baseman Kenny Destremps and an error. UMD senior shortstop Ryan McDermott (Pembroke, MA/Pembroke HS) tied it in the top of the seventh when he drove in junior first baseman Anthony Fiorita (North Reading, MA/St. John's Prep) with a two-out, RBI single. But the Judges won it in their half when reliever Pat Nicholson, who started the game at first base, beat out an infield single with two out to drive home center fielder Tony Deshler with the winning run. Nicholson earned the win and improved to 2-1. Sophomore Aaron Brunette (North Andover, MA/North Andover HS) went all the way and took the loss, falling to 1-1.

BU scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap and never lost their lead. Sophomore right fielder Matt Worden (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford HS) had three hits and three runs batted in for the Corsairs, and McDermott homered and drove in two runs. Second baseman Sean O'Hare drove in four runs for the Judges. Stefan Weiss, who relieved started Colin Markel in the first inning, earned the win and improved to 1-1. Senior Kyle Merrill (Dennis, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth HS) started and took the loss for UMD, falling to 1-1.

"Aaron Brunette pitched well in the opener," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Bob Curran. "He's back healthy, and that's a big plus for us. We didn't hit in the middle innings when we had a chance to extend our lead. In the second game, we knew that we were going to have to piece it together. We need to get everyone back and healthy."

The Corsairs dropped to 8-12, while the Judges improved to 15-11. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they visit Rhode Island College Tuesday. Brandeis will host Worcester State Tuesday.